Luminous sign



Nov. 15, 1932. E. s. woLD 1,887,534

LUMINOUS S IGN Filed Nov. 24, 1930 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 EDWARD s. Worm, or enrolled, vILniNoIs Luminous SIGN a Application mea November 24, ieao;Y yserial No. ef/,64.3.

liy invention relates to luminous signs and is concerned more particularly with signs f this characterv in which the figures or letters displayed are defined by' vtransparent. or V translucentbeads which are exposed to natural or artificial lightrays.

One object of my invention is t0 devise a novel manner of disposing and sustaining in position the several beads which form m the signiproper, the nature of thev `support permittingthe detachment or replacement of selected beads without-interfering with the remaining beads ofthe sign. Y u Y A further object is to provide for series .i of reiectors in conjunction with the' arrangement of beads, which shall create a pleasing and attractive effect Lthrough the capacity ofthe reiiectors to be colored as desired. .e

A further object is to devise a sign having luminous properties arising from the use of beads which may have lsmooth or faceted surfaces and which are disposed'to insure the unhindered reflection and transmission of light rays therethrough inall directions so presents a clear and readable appearance `when viewed from locations other than those in front. e i

A further object is theq provision of a sign employing transparent or translucent beads give the same a glowing appearance by reason of the reflectors, and during the day, by externa-l, natural light rays which .pass through the beads and are directed outwardly of the sign through the beads again by vthe reflectors.

A further object is to devise a beaded, luminous sign in which the mounting of the beads permits their easy rotation by hand for V the purpose of facilitating washing, .cleaning, or a redisposition of the bead surfaces. These and further `objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being-had to the accompanye ing drawing, and the novel means byv which adjacent beads.V :.3 that. the sign is free from shadow effect andv said objects are eifectuated will beI definitely pointed out in the'claims. In the drawing: i

lFigure l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my improved luminous sign. y e I F ig. 2 is a.'k section 'alllg the line in Fig. 1, looking inthe vdirection of thefarrow, and showing theinternal Yconstruction of sign.

. Fig. A3 jean-enlarged section along the line 3 3 in Fig; 2, looking in the direction of they arrows, and showing the indiyidiial support for each bead and .the reflector'stru'cture therefor. i

Fig. 4 is an .enlarged View, corresponding to the pertinent portion of Fig. 2 and showing a further relation of the beads,'their upports in ,the sign, andthe reflectors' thereor. y Y

Fig. 5 is a partial View looking in the `direction ,ofthe Varrow 5 in Fig. f1 and showing theV manner of closing the gaps. between Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the portion of a sign plate which incorporates a ycharacter requiring thev use offna plurality Lof beads which are graduated in size.

The .numeral 10 represents a box which may have any desired shape, but whichfor the purpose `of illustration will .be considered vas having the'elongated conformation shown in Fig. 1. The upper V`side of said'box may be provided with any desired number of' eye bolts 11 for attachment to a suitable chain 12, whereby the box l0 may be suspended'in any given location. It y'will ibe understood,

however, that the box Vmay be suspended or i supported, dependent upon the particular environment in whichy placed. l

' The box 1() is Yclosed on all sides exceptfthe front thereof, and the latter fis normally closed by asign plate 13 which isslidably received in suitable upper andtrlOWer guideways 14 and v15 provided on the box l,pIQPel In .the particular construction indicated, the plate 13 is shaped with a channel 'section 'with the yflange 16 thereof resting on the bottom of ,the box 10 :and the flange 1,7.closi4141g .the gap which would otherwise exist between .the

members of the upper guideways 14, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The sign plate 13 is provided with a plurality of openings 18 which are cut to Acreate the desired conformation of the figures, letters, or characters in general, which the plate is designed to portray and the sides of the openings 18 are defined by flanges 19 which extend inwardly of the plate 13.

The flanges 19 are pierced to receive a plurality of cotter pins 20 which are Abridged transversely across the openings V18 between said flanges and each of which pass through beads 21 which may be .formed 'of-glass, orl

some material which will transmit light rays.

Each of the beads'21is supported forl free Ving means `,than the cotter pins'20, provided Ysuch support extends transversely of the openings`18 and further provided that each bead21 is individually supported.

- As shown in Fig. 3, the cotter pins 20 are located `relatively close'to the junction of the flanges 19 and themajorportion of the sign plate -13, with the flanges 19 extending inwardly from the plate 13 for some distance. Said flanges are provided with a plurality Vof spacedcuts '22 which dene a plurality A.of tongues 23 and the tongues immediately adjacent each'of thebeads 21'are bent closely theretoward, as showniclearly in Fig. 3, for the purpose of' providing individual reflectors for each bead.Y Itis contemplated that the surfaces ofthereflectors 23 will be of a nature to provide for themost efficient ,reflection of light rays which may be incident thereon. Those reflectors which are intermediate the beads 2,1 are bent over to substantially close the gap that would otherwise exist between adjacent beads by reason vof their relativel curvature and the reflectors which are so bent definitely prevent the escape of errant light rays between the beads which would otherwise detract from the effects which thesign is intended to create. It

will also be observed, from an examination ofFig. 3, that the positioning of each bead 21 in the plate 13 is such as to provide that a predetermined portion offeach bead extends forwardly of the plate 13, so that thesign presents clear and undistorted effects when viewed from locations'other than ,those in front of the "sign.

The interior sides of the box 10 may be provided with the customary reflecting surface 24 and the inside of the plate 13 may also be provided with a similar surface 25, it being contemplated that the relation of the reflecting surfaces 24 and 25 will be such that they conjunctively act to eventually direct light rays that may be incident thereon outwardly through the beads mounted on the plate 13. On the bottom of the box 10 may be. mounted one or more light bulbs 26, de-

'Y pendent upon the size of the sign, and the wires 27 leading thereto may be enclosed within a duct 28: which is mounted externally of t-he end of the box 10.v j

YIn Fig. 6 is illustrated one embodiment of my improved sign which illustrates the advantages characteristicv of my improved Inode of supporting the beads 21 in the plate 13. 'The' figure is intended to generically represent a figure or character having such a conformation that'it is necessary to employ beads which are graduated in size. Specifically,the character selected is the letter 09, as represented by the numeral 29. The

Vflanges which define this letter are not spaced uniformly from each other throughout the complete extentof the letter, so that, for example, in moving downwardly from the upper portion of the letter along either branch toward the bottom thereof, the initial spacing between the flanges is the minimum distance but this spacing gradually increases to amaximum at a point midway between the end'of the letter and thereafter decreases in diameter toythe minimum at the bottom thereof.V By providing for an individual support for each bead and'by arranging this support to extend transversely across the space between the flanges 'which define the letter, it is possible to easily, quickly and moist efficient-ly position the graduated beads within the opening. c

' In employing my sign, illumination at vnight is provided by the bulbs 26, from which "'1'10 the lightl rays, either pass directly through thebeads'21, or pass therethrough after a series of redirections of path of travel by the reflectors 24 and 25, with secondary reflections being provided by the reflectors 23y for such light rays as may be directly incident thereon vfrom the primary light source 26, or for such light rays as may be rellected outwardly of the beads 21 by the facets thereon and which, of course,rare-` thereafter reflected back through the indicated beads by the reflectors 23. During the day, thesign also exhibits a luminous character by reason of the external light rays which pass through the beads 21 and become incident upon the reflectors. 23, being thereafter redirected back through said beads in order to provide the glowing or v.luminous condition desired. Many attractive effects 'can be secured with my improved design merely by appropriately coloring the reflectors 23, the coloring so selected thereby estabrovided in every direction, so that the sign is substantially free from distorted effects, even when viewed from directions other than those immediately to the front of the sign. The substantially scintillating effect produced by the plurality of facets on the several beads 21 provides my improved sign not only with value as an ordinary sign letter, but also lends itself more particularly to the production of brilliant and striking effects with flashes, changing color devices and other known lighting contrivances, such as the production of the appearance effect of running water, flames and the like. .y The individual mounting of the beads 2 provides for their easy replacement in the event that they become broken, or discolored to an extent such as would otherwiserdetract from their value as light transmitting agencies, While their easy rolling capacity on their individual supports'enables them to be cleaned easily on all sides thereof. Owing to the box 10 being enclosed, so that substantially the only outlet for heat therefrom exists through the beads 2l themselves, it has been found that the sign possesses certain display advantages when located on the inner side of a store window or the like, when the latter is subjected to a frosting condition by reason of the external weather conditions. The heat emitted through the beads 2l, being directly incident on the glass of a store window, maintains the latter at such a temperature as to completely free the same from such accumulation of snowand ice as may have gathered thereon.

While I have shown one set of elements and combinations tlierof for eilectuating my improved luminous sign, it will be understood that the same isintended for the purpose of illustration only and in no wise to restrict my device to the particular forms and structures shown, for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a plate provided with an opening conforming to the letter or character to be displayed, light transmittingV beads positioned in said opening, the thickness of each bead conforming substantially to the width of said opening, and individual cotter pins passing through each bead and bridgedtransverselyfacross said openingffor supportingk said beads viii-position. 'f i f 2: A sign comprising aplatevprovided with an opening conforming to the letter vor character to vbe displayed, flangesdefiningthe opposite sides of 'said opening, light' transmittingi.beadsfpositioned in said opening, the thickness of each beadfconforming"substantially to the width of `said opening, and individual Cotter-"pins passing vthrough each -b'eadand transversely of the opening for sup:- .porting said beads inl position. 5

3. vA sign comprising a plate providedifwith l opening rconforming. to the letter or character Y to bedisplayed, llight' transmitting beads positioned in said opening, vthe thickness of each `bead `conforming substantially to the width-'of said opening, means for supporting eachbead extending therethrough and transversely facross; said. opening, and

individual 'reflectorsflocated on the rear side of and in close'proximity to said beads -to 'reflect outwardly through the beads those light rays which are incident lon the beads VXexternally ofthe sign. j

f 4. Asigncomprising Valplate provided with an opening-.conforming to the letter or character to be displayed, flanges defining thef'op osite sides of saidopening, light transmitting beads positioned insaid yopening, and means for ysupporting said beads extending" therethrough and? Atransversely acrossV said opening 'betweenffsaid flanges, said flanges beingcut to provide tongue reflectors on the reaijside of said beads.

5.- A signpomprising a plate provided Leo with an opening conformingto ythe letter or i character to be displayed, flanges Vdefining theo'pposite sides of said opening, light transmitting beads positioned in said "opening, the thickness of each bead conforming substantially to the width of said opening, and means for supporting each bead extending therethrough and transversely across j said opening between said flanges, said flanges being cut to provide individual tongue reflectors on the rear side of each bead.

substantially to the width of said opening, 'i

and means for supporting each bead extending therethrough and transversely across said opening between said flanges, said flanges being cut to provide individual tongue reflectors on the rear side'of eachk bead, and the flanges between said reflectors fitting closely the adjacent portions of saidV beads.

7. A sign comprising a plate provided with an opening conforming to the letter or char-i v;

6. A sign comprising a plate providedv acter -to .be displayed, llight transmitting', I i spherical beads positioned insaid opening, Y

the diameter of,eachzbeadconforming substantially'to the Width` of said opening, and individual means vfor supporting each bead extending therethrough and transversely across said'opening, said; plate fitting closely the sector-like openings between adjacent beads. Y f

8. A sign comprising a plate provided with an opening conforming to the letter or character to be displayed, light transmitting beads positioned in said'opening,4 means for supporting said beads, and tongue reflectors formed along said opening on the rear sides of said beads. L

9. A sign comprising a plate provided with an opening conforming to the letter or character to be displayed, light transmitting beads positioned in said opening, the thickness of each bead conforming 'substantially to the Width of said opening, means for supn porting said beads, and tongue reflectors formed along said opening on the rear side of each bead. l

10. A sign vcomprising a plate provided With an opening conforming to the letter or character to be displayed, light transmitting vbeads positioned in said opening, the thickness of each bead conforming substantially to the Width of said opening, means for supporting said beads, and a plurality of flanges formed along said opening, certain of said flanges being bent to provide individual tongue reiectors on the rear side of eachy bead and the other iianges fitting closely the l adjacent portions of said beads between said reiiectors.

`In testimony whereof, I. have subscribed my name.

EDWARD S. VOLD.` 

